Expectations are the root cause of stress!!

As I am growing older I am realizing meanings on patience, maturity, expectations in the truest ways.. Earlier these just meant dictionary words, but now it means so much more.

Aren't we living everyday with some expectation or other? That is absolutely true. So, whom are we expecting things from? It may be from job, colleagues, friends, family and most importantly from god!! Why do we pray? Most of us pray to get something done with just a few exceptions.. Having said that how many of us will deny that they have not asked for anything during a prayer and simply said thanks for everything? This is going to be a rarity.

Now I am getting very sensitive to expectations, although I had this trait earlier too but now it is getting stronger with aging process. I simply don't like to do anything if I realize that someone is expecting me to do something for them. If I do, I do very reluctantly and I try to get away from that person. Is it good? I don't know..

For instance my parents expect me to do something for them, my nephews and nieces expect me to do something for them. Well, expecting something ad getting is done is fine as long as you have no other means. But it puts me off if I get a sense that someone is expecting(or should I say exploiting?) something from you which they can otherwise do. Or if they can save some money if you do that for them at the cost of huge inconvenience to you. Should you go for it? I don't know. I am too confused now and now I am in the midst of such a situation where someone demands something from me knowing that I am not willing to perform that duty.